By-Laws

Chapter I—Title

Chapter II—Objectives

The objectives of the PALATKA YACHT CLUB shall be to promote good fellowship and cooperation among its members, the sport of yachting, safety afloat, and techniques of good seamanship.

Chapter III—Officers

The officers shall be a Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Secretary, and Treasurer. The term shall be for one year. Officers may succeed themselves.

Chapter IV—Board of Directors

The management of this club shall be by a Board of Directors composed of the officers of the club and two additional directors elected by the general membership. Officers and directors shall be elected at the November meeting of each year and shall assume their duties at the first January meeting of the new year. The Commodore shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. The directors shall serve for two years with one or more new directors being elected each year. The immediate past commodore shall serve as a director for one year. Any member of the Directors, who for any reason fails to attend three consecutive meetings, shall be replaced by a member of the Palatka Yacht Club appointed by the commodore. This appointment shall be for the remaining term of the Commodore.

Chapter V—Meetings

The Board of Directors shall meet monthly to conduct the business affairs of the club. Regular meetings of the membership shall be as announced by the Commodore. Twenty percent of the members of the club shall constitute a quorum at regular meetings and fifty percent of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at the Board of Directors meetings. Meetings shall be conducted as per Robert’s Rules of Order.

Chapter VI—Membership

Membership in the PALATKA YACHT CLUB shall be by invitation only. Invitations to prospective members shall be extended only after approval by the Board of Directors. There shall be five classes of membership as herein defined. Any member may be expelled from the club by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors for any action that is detrimental to the club. The decision may be appealed by the member or merchant to the general membership.

Class I—Senior Member

To qualify as a senior member, adults must be at least 35 years of age by January 1 of the year of application, will have full voting rights, and will have the privilege of holding an office or serving on the Board of Directors. This membership category includes children 12 years or younger who are dependents of the senior member.

Class II—Intermediate Member

To qualify as an intermediate member, adults must be between the ages of 21 and 34 by January 1 of the year of application, will have full voting rights, and will have the privilege of holding an office or serving on the Board of Directors. Intermediate members, upon becoming 35, can become senior members without paying an initiation fee. This membership category includes children 12 years or younger who are dependents of the intermediate member.

Class III—Junior Member

To qualify as a junior member, the junior must be between the ages of 12 and 20 by January 1 of the year of application. Junior members who are dependents of intermediate or senior members, upon becoming 21, can become intermediate members without paying an initiation fee. Prospective junior members who are not dependents of intermediate or senior members must pay an initiation fee. Junior members are entitled to purchase club burgees. Juniors may not hold any offices or serve on the Board of Directors. Junior members may appoint a member of this class to advise the Board of Directors regarding junior activities.

Class IV—Nonresident Member

To qualify as a nonresident member, adults (21 years of age or older) must have their permanent residence outside Putnam County. Nonresident members may attend club functions, but may not vote or hold any office in the club. Nonresident members may purchase and display the club burgee and license plate. A nonresident member may elect to become an intermediate or senior member depending on the member’s age, by paying the appropriate dues and fees of that class of membership and still live outside Putnam County.

Class V—Business Membership

To qualify for a business membership, an applicant must be the chief executive officer of the business. The membership belongs to the business, not to an individual, which means no voting privileges for this class of membership. A business member may purchase and display the club burgee and advertise its organization to the PALATKA YACHT CLUB without additional charge.

Chapter VII—Fees and Dues

Initiation Fee

Class I members shall pay an initiation fee that shall be recommended by the Board of Directors and shall be approved by a majority vote at any regular membership meeting provided that the membership is notified by mail prior to the vote.

Class II members shall pay an initiation fee that is 60% of the amount paid by Class I members.

Class III members shall pay an initiation fee that is 40% of the amount paid by Class I members, unless exempt from paying the fee.

Classes IV and V pay an initiation fee that is 50% of the amount paid by Class I members.

Annual Dues

Annual dues shall be as recommended by the Board of Directors and approved by a majority vote at any regular meeting of the membership following notification to the members by mail. Annual dues shall be levied as follows.

Class I shall be decided by the general membership as provided in the previous paragraph.

Class II shall be 60% of the Class I rate.

Class III shall be at 40% of the Class I rate.

Class IV shall be 75% of the Class I rate.

Class V shall be $100 more than the Class I rate.

Annual dues are prorated for new members joining the club after January 1 of any year.

Reinstatement of Former Club Members

Former members of the club, who have resigned and desire reinstatement, must apply to the Board of Directors using the same membership application as prospective new members. Former members may request a waiver of the initiation fee explaining why the request is being made. All such requests will be evaluated by the Board of Directors and decided by majority vote of the Board.

Chapter VIII—Duties of Officers

Commodore

It shall be the duty of the Commodore to lead the club and direct its activities, to preside at club meetings and board meetings, appoint all committees and enforce adherence to the club’s by-laws.

Vice Commodore

It shall be the duty of the Vice-Commodore to assist the Commodore in the discharge of his duties, and in the absence of the Commodore, to serve in his place.

Secretary

It shall be the duty of the Secretary to maintain a correct roll of members and their yachts, to record and maintain a record of the proceedings of all meetings of the membership and Board of Directors, to have custody of all reports and documents connected with the business of the club, to give notice of all meetings, to designate the agenda for special meetings, to notify members of their appointment to serve on committees, to notify candidates of election to membership, to conduct the correspondence of the club other than that conducted by the Commodore or Treasurer, and to perform such other duties as would normally be expected of this officer.

Treasurer

It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to have custody of all funds of the club, to collect and receive all monies due the club, to pay all bills approved for payment by the Board of Directors, to keep an accurate permanent record of all receipts and disbursements, to make a detailed report to the membership at the regular monthly meetings on the gross receipts since the previous report and the bank balance at the close of the previous month, and to perform such other duties as would normally be expected of this officer.

Chapter IX—Club Burgee

The club burgee shall be a pennant with a white “P” centered on a red circle over a blue sail on a white background.

Chapter X—Amendments to the By-Laws

These by-laws may be amended by a majority vote at any regular membership meeting following presentation of the proposed amendment to the members present at the previous monthly meeting. The Secretary shall include the exact wording of the proposed amendment in the notice of the second meeting at which final action is to be taken.

Chapter XI—Capital Improvements and Debt

Capital improvements to the club include any item or its components if the components cannot be used independently and have a total purchase value in excess of $1,000. No expenditure in excess of $1,000 for a capital improvement shall be authorized by the Board of Directors without prior approval of a majority of the membership in attendance at a regularly scheduled meeting of the club.

All loans for indebtedness must have the recommendation of the Board of Directors and be approved by a majority of the membership in attendance at a regularly scheduled meeting of the club.

club members shall be notified prior to the meeting at which a vote will be taken on capital improvements or debt. Notification shall be made using the club’s newsletter, which may be sent via the United States postal system or e-mail.